Our Zoo - Series 1 Episode 1 - BBC 1 - 03/09/2014

The problems with historical biopics based on a true story is that you already know what happens. Yet in BBC One's new British drama, 'Our Zoo' based on the real life story of George Mottershead and his trial and tribulations into developing Chester Zoo, I found myself shouting at the television when the Mottershead family were racing against time to get to the auction in order to buy the place that would eventually become the Zoo. I'm sure many people are unaware of the story of Chester Zoo, I count myself one of them, but the hope with this new series is that it will enlighten people on this story. However, if Chester Zoo wanted to increase the amount of people through its doors on the back of this new drama, to which 5 million initial viewers tuned in, BBC missed a shot there, by showing it at the end of the kids Summer holidays.

Despite all this, it was a glorious episode, really heartwarming, family friendly viewing. In this first episode, we saw the problems that George Motterhead faced trying to set up his vision of  a "Zoo without bars" and how he couldn't stand to see the animals at the circus in such poor health with no freedom, even if that did mean keeping a camel in his backyard, much to the disgust of his family. This opening story was a mix of some very funny humour, especially featuring the brilliant Ralf Little, who it is great to see on our screens again. The humour can be best shown in a scene in the pub where someone asks "what are those?" "These are sunglasses, straight from America." The irony of history makes for some very funny jokes!

But, this story was also pained with sadness and some truly emotional scenes, which showed a mothers heartbreak at losing her child in the war and the pain that a survivor of the war, in this case the First World War at struggling to adjust to Civilian even after 10 or more years. The sound of gun shots in the circus still manages to affect George Mottershead, played superbly by Lee Ingleby, bringing flashbacks of the war. Even though this is a show that has no outward relation to the First World War, it is perfectly timed by the BBC to involve a show about the war, in its 100 year anniversary.

'Our Zoo' is a delight to watch, that manages to combine the past with some historical knowledge and comedic, drama and emotional scenes along the way. Individual characters are each brilliant, especially child actor Honor Kneafsey, playing the Mottershead's youngest child June, managing to play all the wonder, amazement and intelligence, i'm sure of the real June Mottershead. There are hopes to make more series of 'Our Zoo' to which Lee Ingleby believes it can go on for 'decades', telling stories of the development of Chester Zoo throughout the 20th century. And if the rest of this series continues as the first episode has done, the BBC would be foolish to make more.